November 2025 protests

The people’s fury vs corruption continues.

Cebuano artists joined this protest through their just recently concluded Visayas Art Fair 2025.

“Tino&Hilumpaskaratola” held from November 15-18 at the Oakridge Studio in Mandaue City featured “the series of paintings by Estela Ocampo-Fernandez inspired by photos and videos of the devastation caused by the floods of Typhoon Tino. These were meant to be healing paintings to allow the viewers through art to remember and contemplate the underlying causes and implications of this flood to the city's viability and survival.

Along with these were pen and ink drawings on canvas by Raymund Fernandez still on this same issue.

"Hilom pa's karatula" was an installation of street/traffic signs deconstructed to convey thoughts of importance by various artists including NyorTAGô.

Signs are the ubiquitous marker of civilization and the artists used this medium as space for contemplating the human condition.”

More mass protests have been scheduled as well for this November, notably, the Iglesiani Cristo (INC) 3-day Quirino Grandstand protest from November 16-18 and the November 30 multi-group mass rallies at varying locations.

While the INC has denied that their protest was political and “was focused on their demand for a “proper and transparent” investigation into the alleged misuse of multibillion-dollar funds for flood control projects under Marcos’s watch and better democracy,” speculations were rife that it could have escalated to a destabilization move, in coalition with Du30 supporters, demanding the resignation/ouster of BBM, which would install as next President VP Sara Du30 whom INC continues to support.

The INC 3-day protest ended peacefully, earlier, on the 2nd day, with INC explaining that BBM has heard their message and that their 600,000 followers (out of an estimated 3 million members) were exhausted from the 48-hour straight protest as well.

Another protesting group at the Quezon City “People Power” monument, about 2000 with retired generals and identified Du30 supporters called for but did not achieve their goal of removing BBM.

The November protests are now clearly divided in terms of goals – anti-corruption/transparency/governance -related, and, BBM-ouster related.

In a move to appease public fury and to respond quickly to the mounting protests, Malaca?ang has announced the resignations of top officials allegedly linked to flood control corruption. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has also announced that arrest warrants will be out vs top officials, incumbent and ex-senators, others by December 15.

Soon, future events will show whether these moves will be sufficient to derail any further calls for BBM resignation, discourage attempts for destabilization from the Du30 or other factions, and calm the angry protesters from staging non-peaceful rallies.

The Catholic Church and center-left political blocs have set November 30 for their protest rallies. Like the military, these groups, among others, have called for protests within the framework of the present Constitution.

From now until November 30, how will the public fury, the struggle and demand for justice and return of stolen public funds, the provision of adequate welfare/public services, the end of political dynasties proced?

Where will this public rage and protest take our people and our country?

Will peace hold out or will violence and destabilization erupt this November?

Will BBM remain in power, will another Du30 take over, or are there other options?

Transition government, military rule has been touted as alternatives to any further BBM/Du30 administration by some, but rejected as well by others.

Which way will this nation, will our people take beyond these public rage and protests?

Definitely, our country is still in a crisis.

According to political analyst Ronald Llamas, “It’s just been appeased for now. But the crisis remains. The anticorruption outrage won’t go away.”

How this crisis and anti-corruption public fury will be resolved will need all of us to unite together, in vigilant prayer and peaceful action.